Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42574070›Full record

SynthesisJournal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing2026

The Patient's Voice in Advanced Practice Nursing: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Lived Experiences.

Qin Hu, Wei Tan, Shanshan Liu, Li Tang, Yan Jiang

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Qin HuDepartment of Operating Room, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3360-1496
Wei TanEvidence-Based Nursing Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7801-3133
Shanshan LiuEvidence-Based Nursing Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8367-6732
Li TangDepartment of Operating Room, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yan JiangEvidence-Based Nursing Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9813-3738

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsThis review aims to synthesize qualitative evidence on patients' lived experiences of advanced practice nursing.

designQualitative systematic review. DATA SOURCES: The studies included in this review were sourced from PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, Embase, and CINAHL. Studies were limited to those published from database inception to March 5, 2026. REVIEW

methodsThe review adhered to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines. Two independent reviewers screened titles, abstracts, and full-text articles to assess eligibility for inclusion. Data were extracted and analyzed using thematic synthesis. Confidence in findings was assessed using the CERQual approach.

resultsThirty-seven studies were included. Five themes emerged from patients' accounts: (1) feeling seen and heard through therapeutic presence; (2) understanding illness through explanation and dialogue; (3) building trust through competence and respect; (4) gaining confidence and agency in self-management; and (5) experiencing coherent and coordinated care across services.

conclusionsPatients experienced advanced practice nursing as a relational, educational, and coordinating form of care. APNs were valued not only for their advanced clinical expertise but also for the way they listened, explained, built trust, supported patient agency, and helped patients navigate fragmented healthcare systems. These findings suggest that the effectiveness of APN care is closely linked to relational continuity, individualized communication, and system-level coordination. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Understanding patients' lived experiences of advanced practice nursing can help nurses and healthcare organizations strengthen patient-centred care. The findings highlight the importance of protecting time for listening, supporting clear and individualized communication, building trustful partnerships, encouraging patient participation, and recognizing APNs' role in coordinating care across complex healthcare systems.

Indexed as

Advanced Practice NursingNurse-Patient RelationsHumansQualitative Researchadvanced practice nursepatient‐centred carepatient experiencequalitative review

Identifiers

PMID42574070
PMCPMC13456091

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.